NERP TE Project 3.2 - What is at risk? Identifying rainforest refugia and hotspots of plant genetic diversity in the Wet Tropics and Cape York Peninsula (JCU)

Project summary

Far North Queensland’s tropical rainforests are home to much of the remaining ancient Gondwanan flora. As a result, Queensland’s rainforests are incredibly rich in species and contain one of the most complete, intact and continuous records of flowering plant evolution. This project will map the genetic and phylogenetic diversity of northeast Queensland rainforest plants and fungi with a focus on the mountaintop species, which are regarded as among the most at risk from climate warming. The team will deliver a report on conservation priorities for this region based on the data produced during the life of the project.

Canopy of Leptospermum wooroonooran trees

Canopy of Leptospermum wooroonooran trees, one of the vegetation communities thought to be most at risk.

Why this research is needed

The plant species that occur in this region are relatively well documented, but the genetic diversity within these species is unknown. As genetic diversity contributes to resilience to environmental change, measuring this diversity and charting where in the landscape it is concentrated will provide a solid foundation for prioritising conservation efforts in northeast Queensland’s rainforests.

Photos

Datasets

This project will map the genetic and phylogenetic diversity of northeast Queensland rainforest plants and fungi with a focus on the mountaintop species, which are regarded as among the most at risk from climate warming. The project consists of two nested subprojects.